Muslim Council of Montreal calls on all Canadians to join fight to end violence against women

December 6, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal, Quebec, December 6th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) calls on all Canadians to help end violence against women, in commemoration of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.

“This marks the 22nd anniversary of the tragic murders that took place at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and all Canadians should remember those innocent victims by renewing our pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about any form of violence against women,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Around the world, the numbers for abuse against women range from 15% to 71%. At times of war and in conflict zones, it is often girls and women who pay the heaviest price, becoming victims of war rapes, sexual slavery and forced prostitution. Here at home, 61% of Canadians say they know at least one woman who has been physically or sexually assaulted. We must speak out against this and say enough is enough.”

 

“We call on all organizations and individuals to help raise public awareness about this issue and help to eradicate violence against women, in our homes, in our communities, in our nation and around the world. Domestic violence and abuse against women remains a problem in all communities across Canada and internationally, irrespective of religious and ethnic background. We must work together to address this problem and take concerted efforts to end it.”

 

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, violence against women is defined as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

 

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada is marked annually on December 6th, on the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal.

 

 

CONTACT:

Salam Elmenyawi

Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM)

Ph.: (514) 748-8427

E-mail: info@muslimcouncil.org

Website: http://www.muslimcouncil.org

 

 

The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) is an umbrella organization representing a number of Islamic institutions in the Montreal region. There are over 275,000 Muslims in Montreal, about 1,200,000 in Canada and 1.9 billion worldwide.

 

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